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Violence and Memory in the Ethiopian Novel: Maaza Mengiste's Beneath

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Violence and Memory in the Ethiopian Novel: Maaza Mengiste's Beneath VIOLENCE AND MEMORY IN THE ETHIOPIAN NOVEL: MAAZA MENGISTE’S BENEATH THE LION’S GAZE AND DINAW MENGESTU’S CHILDREN OF THE REVOLUTION JULIUS KANYARI MWANGI A Project Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Arts in Literature, University of Nairobi 2013 DECLARATION This project is my original work and has not been presented for the award of any de- gree in any other university Signed……………………………..Date:………………………………. Julius Kanyari Mwangi C50/65491/2010 This project has been submitted for examination with our permission as University Supervisors Signed……………………………….Date:………………………………... Dr. Godwin Siundu Signed………………………………Date:………………………………. Dr. Alina Rinkanya ii DEDICATION This work is dedicated to Mami Guka and Cucu iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am very grateful for the academic and spiritual guidance offered to me by my super- visors Dr. Godwin Siundu and Dr. Alina Rinkanya. I would also like to thank Mr. Kimingichi Wabende and Dr. Waigwa Wachira for offering me moral guidance in the course of my studies at the University of Nairobi. I am also grateful for the support extended to me in the course of my course work by the following lecturers: Prof. Wanjiku Mukabi Kabira, Prof. Ciarunji Chesaina, Dr. Tom Odhiambo, Dr. Masumi Odari, Dr. Jennifer Muchiri, Dr. Joseph Muleka, Mr. Mumia Osaaji, Prof. Chris Wan- jala, Dr. Alex Wanjala, Prof. Henry Indangasi, Prof. Peter Wasamba, and Prof. D. H. Kiiru. Most importantly, I would like to thank my family and friends for standing by me throughout my studies. Special thanks go to Elizabeth Muringi, Wanjiru, Martin, John Nyaga, Robert Kimotho, Cyrus Kanyari, Esther Wangari, Mercy Karimi, Agnes Wangui, Wycliffe Macharia, Milkah Wambui, Elizabeth Wanjiku and Grace Muthoni. I would also like to acknowledge my classmates Doseline Kiguru, Marciana Nafula Were, Pauline Odhiambo, David Wafula, Joanne Wanjala, Daudi Rotich, Chesia Lu- masia, Gloria Ozor, Patrick Mutiso, Mikal Modi, Ann Nduku, Christine, Winnie, George, Korir, Tony and Mike for brightening my days in campus. I am also grateful to the University of Nairobi for awarding me a scholarship that facilitated my studies. Lastly, my heart-felt thanks go to God for guaranteeing my health. iv CONTENTS Declaration .............................................................................................................. ii Dedication............................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements................................................................................................. iv Contents.................................................................................................................. v Abstract ................................................................................................................. vii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION..................................................................... 1 1.1 Statement of the Problem..................................................................................... 2 1.2 Justification......................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Objectives of the study ........................................................................................ 3 1.4 Hypotheses.......................................................................................................... 3 1.5 Scope and Limitations ......................................................................................... 3 1.6 Literature Review................................................................................................ 4 1.7 Theoretical Framework...................................................................................... 13 1.8 Methodology ..................................................................................................... 16 1.9 Definition of Terms ........................................................................................... 17 1.10 Chapters Breakdown........................................................................................ 18 CHAPTER TWO: VIOLENCE IN THE ETHIOPIAN NOVEL....................... 20 2.1 Introduction....................................................................................................... 20 2.2 Beneath the Lion’s Ga ze.....................................................................................24 2.3 Children of the Revolution ..................................................................................41 2.4 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 68 CHAPTER THREE: MEMORY AS A MARKER OF IDENTITY ................... 70 3.1 Introduction....................................................................................................... 70 3.2 Children of the Revolution ................................................................................. 73 3.3 Beneath the Lion’s Gaze .................................................................................... 87 3.4 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 99 v CHAPTER FOUR: A GENDER PERSPECTIVE TO VIOLENCE AND MEMORY ............................................................................................................100 4.1 Introduction......................................................................................................100 4.2 Beneath the Lion’s Gaze ...................................................................................104 4.3 Children of the Revolution ................................................................................120 4.4 Conclusion .......................................................................................................133 THE CONCLUSION............................................................................................135 WORKS CITED...................................................................................................140 vi ABSTRACT This study explores the themes of memory and violence in Maaza Mengiste’s Beneath the Lion’s Gaze and Dinaw Mengestu’s Children of the Revolution . The theme of vio- lence is discussed in the first chapter while memory is discussed in the subsequent chapter. The study also adopts a gender perspective to violence and memory, which constitutes my third chapter. Therefore, the study employs theories of violence, memory and gender. Under the theme of violence, the study is guided by the ideas of Lawrence, B. and Karim, Aisha (On Violence ), Wole Soyinka ( Climate of Fear: The Quest for Dignity in a Dehuman- ized World ), Achille Mbembe ( On the Postcolony ), Antonio Gramsci ( Selections from the Prison Notebooks) , and Frantz Fanon ( The Wretched of the Earth ). On the other hand, my analysis of the theme of memory is majorly guided by the ideas of Felman (1992, 206), Susan Gubar (2003), Godwin Siundu (2009) and Terrence Lyons (2006). Lastly, my third chapter is guided by the ideas of Sara Suleri, with regard to African feminism. The study discusses violence as multi-directional. In as much as the military regimes mete violence against the people, the latter responds through the use of available forms of violence. The study therefore explores three different forms of violence in- cluding physical, psychological and symbolic. Physical violence entails observable harm to internal or external organs of the characters’ bodies while psychological vio- lence refers to mental harm. As such violence leads various characters to mental or psychological break down. Whereas both men and women are affected by the various forms of violence, women seem to suffer most from these acts of violence aimed at vii total destruction of revolting individuals or groups. However, women emerge victori- ous (they acquire positions of leadership both at the family, community and national levels) at the end of the two novels, as the men are sent to prisons, incapacitated or even killed. The men on the other hand are emasculated as they seek to affirm their identities as men. Faced with these difficult experiences characters employ memory to enhance or blur their vision and mission in the two novels. On one hand, some characters are made better by what they remember, while on the other some are destroyed by what they remember. In addition, the two authors recall their past differently based on their gen- ders. Therefore, this research is yielding with regard to the study of the themes of vio- lence, memory and gender in the Ethiopian literature. viii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION Andrew Bennett and Nicholas Royle, in An Introduction to Literature, Criticism and Theory , write that “[l]iterature begins with war, with the rage of war” (303). This statement is in connection to the works of Homer (Book 1, Lines 1-8), who wrote in 700 BC, and whose major theme was war. Bennet and Royle, therefore, suggest that the “western tradition, in other words, starts up in rage and blood, the rage for rage – godlike, swift-footed, murderous Achilles’ rage…” (303). Bennett and Royle, how- ever, note that change has occurred in the recent past: “[t]he public, nationalistic cele- bration of military heroism of the nineteenth century has given way to a more con- temporary appreciation of the significance of private sorrow and a resistance to futil- ity of war, any war, all war” (303-4). This is majorly a replica of post colonial Africa, whose novels
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